A man savaged his neighbour, biting off a chunk of his ear in a crazed attack.

Jason Guile was ordered by a judge at Hove Crown Court to be detained indefinitely under the Mental Health Act.

Guile bit into Stephen Jessop's left ear until the outer part, from top to bottom, was ripped off.

It fell on the floor and was taken to hospital with 55-year-old Mr Jessop. But surgeons were unable to re-attach it.

Guile, 32, of Jobes, Balcombe, near Haywards Heath, admitting wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.

He was sentenced to be detained at Ashenhill Hospital, a secure unit at Hellingly, near Hailsham. A restriction order was made with no time limit.

Rossano Scarmadella, prosecuting, told the court the men both lived in a block of flats and had known each other for about six months when the attack took place.

Guile called on Mr Jessop early one morning in March last year to inquire about casual work at a local farm.

Mr Jessop informed him the farmer was out for the day and there was no work.

Later that day Guile called again.

Mr Jessop was in the kitchen preparing some food when Guile confronted him about the farm job and said: "You hate me don't you?"

Mr Scarmadella said: "He took hold of the victim and bit his ear.

"He kept biting his ear until he had bitten a chunk out.

"The chunk fell on the floor. The victim picked it up and gave it to the ambulance crew. Efforts to reconstruct his ear were unsuccessful."

The court heard a psychologist's assessment indicated Guile could be violent to people during a psychotic episode if he had not taken his medication.

His problems were made worse by drink and drugs.

Judge Simon Coltart told Guile: "I am satisfied you constitute a high risk to the public. You should not be released unless the Home Secretary or a mental health tribunal say you should be."

Nichola Cafferkey, defending, told the court: "It is clear the complainant in this case had a knife.

"This is a case of excessive self-defence."